48:
1281:
490:
302:
317:
39:
562:
X-Flight operates with two steel and fiberglass trains. Each train has eight cars with four seats per car (two on each side of the track) for a total of 32 riders per train. The colors of the train are red and black with over-the-shoulder restraints. The restraints are similar to the restraints found
590:
reviewed the ride and stated that the theming is very well done, especially the keyhole element. He said the different seating set up encourages re-rides because of the different experience on each side of the train. Overall, he gave the ride a 9 out of 10 because of the "riding position, loops, and
456:
and consists of the train rotating 180 degrees into an upside down position before descending back to the ground. During this drop, the train reaches its top speed of 55 miles per hour (89 km/h). At the bottom of the first drop, riders get their picture taken. After the train exits the first
357:
in the world and the second in the United States on May 16, 2012. It replaced both the
Splashwater Falls and Great American Raceway attractions. The 3,000-foot-long (910 m) roller coaster features barrel rolls, high-speed drops, and a signature fly-through element, where the train narrowly
481:'s corkscrews and last turn, before making a slight left upward turn leading into the Main Brake. The train then makes a 180-degree left turn into the slowdown brake and the transfer track before entering the station. One cycle lasts about 1 minute and 15 seconds.
400:
media preview event was held on May 10, 2012. X-Flight opened for "Xclusive season pass holders" on the weekend of May 12 and then to the public on May 16, 2012. X-Flight originally opened with a 54" height restriction. In 2024, this was changed from 54" to 52".
585:
stated the ride is very smooth with "rolls, dives and inverted, eye-bugging flips." However, he stated that the ride is pretty short and with only one train running the course at a time, the wait time can reach as long as other popular attractions at the park.
390:(footers), ranging from 30 feet (9.1 m) to 77 feet (23 m) were dug into the ground. On January 27, 2012, the final piece of the lift hill was topped off. The trains for X-Flight arrived at the park on March 2, 2012. In a
477:), giving the illusion the train will hit the tower. After going through the tower, the train goes through another near miss keyhole surrounded by a cloud of fog, before exiting the twist and making a tight right turn, passing by
1641:
19:
This article is about the
Bolliger & Mabillard wing coaster at Six Flags Great America. For the Vekoma flying roller coaster at Kings Island that used to operate at Geauga Lake under this name, see
465:
followed by a right turn over a pond. The train then leads into the second zero-g-roll over the main entrance of the ride. Following the roll, the train makes a left turn before going through an
571:
The steel track is approximately 3,000 feet (910 m) in length and the height of the lift is approximately 120 feet (37 m). The track is colored red while the supports are black.
982:
1354:
1244:
1219:
820:
1651:
774:
752:
1551:
47:
1626:
1139:
1375:
899:
94:
1037:
871:
1636:
1462:
1212:
992:
797:
1656:
1565:
674:
1621:
1239:
1117:
843:
1430:
1646:
1205:
470:
363:
1578:
1417:
474:
1280:
1631:
539:
1570:
1359:
527:
650:
449:
194:
441:
1335:
1301:
535:
359:
21:
374:
X-Flight was announced on
September 1, 2011. Six Flags Great America was the first park to announce plans for a
1521:
421:
265:
87:
1306:
1228:
1192:
964:
699:
635:
511:
507:
466:
462:
458:
437:
350:
342:
204:
79:
68:
58:
1090:
1422:
523:
478:
429:
224:
1594:
1160:
531:
436:. Upon reaching the top of the lift hill, the train enters the first element of the roller coaster, a
294:
2 trains with 8 cars. Riders are arranged 4 across in a single row for a total of 32 riders per train.
600:
538:, giving the park a total of four operating coasters from B&M. The park's first B&M coaster,
338:
190:
489:
1599:
461:
before going through a cloud of fog. The train then makes a slight left turn before entering an
1441:
1260:
1042:
987:
904:
848:
392:
1346:
515:
346:
1181:
1151:
1095:
876:
581:
433:
387:
234:
730:
542:, was moved to Six Flags America at the end of the 2011 season. X-Flight was the fourth
1325:
1265:
396:
article in
February, the park said they expect safety tests to start in early April. A
1615:
543:
519:
510:. It was the fifth B&M coaster for Six Flags Great America. X Flight joins the
503:
375:
354:
214:
378:
in the United States. Land clearing started that same month on the former site of
654:
453:
445:
397:
473:, riders go through an actual airplane control tower (which was retrieved from
1472:
1270:
1014:
640:
547:
305:
109:
96:
644:
551:
926:
38:
1197:
703:
386:. The first pieces of the track began to arrive in early October. 127
931:
425:
1064:
579:
X-Flight has received mostly positive reviews. Doug George from the
900:"X-Flight wing coaster premieres at Six Flags Great America in May"
488:
1015:"X-Flight POV *REAL* Six Flags Great America 2012 Roller Coaster"
1084:
1082:
1201:
1188:
960:
326:
432:
immediately begins to climb the steep 120-foot (37 m)
1038:"X Flight takes wing at Six Flags Great America in Gurnee"
1642:
Roller coasters manufactured by
Bolliger & Mabillard
844:"Record profit ends Six Flags financial roller coaster"
546:
built and the second in the United States, preceded by
440:. This element is similar to the Dive Drop's found on
1587:
1550:
1530:
1502:
1471:
1455:
1410:
1390:
1368:
1334:
1315:
1288:
1253:
290:
282:
274:
264:
256:
248:
240:
230:
220:
210:
200:
186:
181:
171:
163:
148:
133:
125:
86:
74:
64:
57:
31:
415:Gary Pohlman, Director of maintenance/construction
647:, was the first of its kind in the United States
410:... It'll be like riding on the wing of a plane.
983:"X-Flight 'like riding on the wing of a plane'"
408:
675:"Six Flags gets in line for more thrill rides"
1213:
725:
723:
721:
653:, a Bolliger & Mabillard Wing Coaster at
643:, a Bolliger & Mabillard Wing Coaster at
8:
1159:(6.2): 34–35. September 2013. Archived from
1065:"X-Flight (Six Flags Great America) Gallery"
1017:. themeparkreviewtpr (YouTube). May 10, 2012
927:"Six Flags Great America unveils 'X Flight'"
796:Six Flags Great America (January 27, 2012).
777:. Six Flags Great America. November 28, 2011
775:"Rebar that is used to support the caissons"
961:"X-Flight (Six Flags Great America)"
469:. During this element, which is known as a
362:as it passes through an opening known as a
1220:
1206:
1198:
976:
974:
755:. Six Flags Great America. October 5, 2011
52:X-Flight train going through the "Keyhole"
819:Six Flags Great America (March 2, 2012).
598:
954:
952:
950:
665:
753:"First 3 pieces of track have arrived"
28:
1652:Roller coasters operated by Six Flags
1463:Justice League: Battle for Metropolis
7:
1118:"X-Flight @ Six Flags Great America"
700:"Six Flags' 'Flying' Roller Coaster"
1120:. The Coaster Critic. July 31, 2012
898:MacDonald, Brady (April 11, 2012).
821:"First few coaster cars of train 1"
1627:Roller coasters introduced in 2012
16:Roller coaster in Gurnee, Illinois
14:
842:Morgan, Dan (February 21, 2012).
673:Black, Lisa (September 3, 2011).
1279:
981:Morgan, Dan (February 2, 2012).
353:, the ride opened as the fourth
315:
300:
46:
37:
1091:"X Flight all about inversions"
506:model from Swiss manufacturer,
286:52–78 in (132–198 cm)
591:interactions or near-misses."
563:on Superman: Ultimate Flight.
457:drop, the train then enters a
424:, which resembles an airplane
1:
1089:George, Doug (May 10, 2012).
1036:Kramer, Beth (May 10, 2012).
320:Must transfer from wheelchair
1637:Wing Coaster roller coasters
1509:Great America Scenic Railway
1435:Great America Scenic Railway
1355:The Flash: Vertical Velocity
475:O'Hare International Airport
1657:Roller coasters in Illinois
870:Levy, Piet (May 16, 2012).
798:"We've reached the top ..."
1673:
1277:
260:55 mph (89 km/h)
252:3,000 ft (910 m)
18:
1622:Operating roller coasters
1302:Superman: Ultimate Flight
1235:
1067:. Roller Coaster Database
731:"X-Flight at Coaster-Net"
536:Superman: Ultimate Flight
420:After departing from the
360:air traffic control tower
325:
313:
298:
110:42.3654361°N 87.9337861°W
45:
36:
22:Firehawk (roller coaster)
1383:Winner's Circle Go Karts
1240:Hurricane Harbor Chicago
508:Bolliger & Mabillard
351:Bolliger & Mabillard
349:. Designed and built by
205:Bolliger & Mabillard
1647:Six Flags Great America
1351:DC Super-Villains Swing
1307:The Dark Knight Coaster
1229:Six Flags Great America
1193:Roller Coaster DataBase
965:Roller Coaster DataBase
636:2012 in amusement parks
512:inverted roller coaster
343:Six Flags Great America
244:120 ft (37 m)
115:42.3654361; -87.9337861
69:Six Flags Great America
59:Six Flags Great America
494:
418:
152:May 16, 2012
137:May 12, 2012
1632:Steel roller coasters
532:flying roller coaster
492:
384:Great America Raceway
177:Great America Raceway
1512:Hometown Fun Machine
1166:on October 19, 2013.
995:on December 26, 2012
872:"X-citing excursion"
601:Golden Ticket Awards
339:steel roller coaster
1600:Holiday in the Park
1552:Southwest Territory
706:. September 1, 2011
608:
358:misses a relocated
106: /
1489:Splish Splash Zone
1343:Aquaman Splashdown
1245:Former attractions
599:
588:The Coaster Critic
495:
283:Height restriction
231:Lift/launch system
182:General statistics
1609:
1608:
1442:Wrath of Rakshasa
1322:Big Easy Balloons
1261:Columbia Carousel
1043:Chicago Sun-Times
988:Chicago Sun-Times
905:Los Angeles Times
849:Chicago Sun-Times
627:
626:
393:Chicago Sun-Times
380:Splashwater Falls
332:
331:
175:Splashwater Falls
134:Soft opening date
1664:
1456:Metropolis Plaza
1400:Sprocket Rockets
1347:Batman: The Ride
1283:
1222:
1215:
1208:
1199:
1185:
1184:
1182:Official website
1168:
1167:
1165:
1148:
1144:Roller Coasters"
1143:
1136:
1130:
1129:
1127:
1125:
1114:
1108:
1107:
1105:
1103:
1086:
1077:
1076:
1074:
1072:
1061:
1055:
1054:
1052:
1050:
1033:
1027:
1026:
1024:
1022:
1011:
1005:
1004:
1002:
1000:
991:. Archived from
978:
969:
968:
956:
945:
944:
942:
940:
923:
917:
916:
914:
912:
895:
889:
888:
886:
884:
867:
861:
860:
858:
856:
839:
833:
832:
830:
828:
816:
810:
809:
807:
805:
793:
787:
786:
784:
782:
771:
765:
764:
762:
760:
749:
743:
742:
740:
738:
727:
716:
715:
713:
711:
696:
690:
689:
687:
685:
670:
609:
607:Roller Coasters
606:
516:Batman: The Ride
416:
347:Gurnee, Illinois
327:X-Flight at RCDB
319:
318:
304:
303:
159:
157:
144:
142:
121:
120:
118:
117:
116:
111:
107:
104:
103:
102:
99:
82:
50:
41:
29:
1672:
1671:
1667:
1666:
1665:
1663:
1662:
1661:
1612:
1611:
1610:
1605:
1583:
1546:
1526:
1503:Hometown Square
1498:
1492:Up, Up and Away
1467:
1451:
1427:Fiddler's Fling
1406:
1386:
1369:Yukon Territory
1364:
1330:
1311:
1284:
1275:
1249:
1231:
1226:
1180:
1179:
1176:
1171:
1163:
1152:Amusement Today
1146:
1141:
1138:
1137:
1133:
1123:
1121:
1116:
1115:
1111:
1101:
1099:
1096:Chicago Tribune
1088:
1087:
1080:
1070:
1068:
1063:
1062:
1058:
1048:
1046:
1035:
1034:
1030:
1020:
1018:
1013:
1012:
1008:
998:
996:
980:
979:
972:
959:Marden, Duane.
958:
957:
948:
938:
936:
925:
924:
920:
910:
908:
897:
896:
892:
882:
880:
877:Chicago Tribune
869:
868:
864:
854:
852:
841:
840:
836:
826:
824:
818:
817:
813:
803:
801:
795:
794:
790:
780:
778:
773:
772:
768:
758:
756:
751:
750:
746:
736:
734:
729:
728:
719:
709:
707:
698:
697:
693:
683:
681:
679:Chicago Tribune
672:
671:
667:
663:
632:
604:
597:
582:Chicago Tribune
577:
569:
560:
500:
487:
485:Characteristics
434:chain lift hill
417:
414:
407:
405:Ride experience
372:
364:keyhole element
321:
316:
309:
301:
235:Chain lift hill
176:
167:$ 12–15 million
155:
153:
140:
138:
114:
112:
108:
105:
100:
97:
95:
93:
92:
78:
53:
25:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1670:
1668:
1660:
1659:
1654:
1649:
1644:
1639:
1634:
1629:
1624:
1614:
1613:
1607:
1606:
1604:
1603:
1597:
1591:
1589:
1585:
1584:
1582:
1581:
1576:
1573:
1568:
1563:
1560:
1556:
1554:
1548:
1547:
1545:
1544:
1541:
1538:
1534:
1532:
1528:
1527:
1525:
1524:
1519:
1516:
1513:
1510:
1506:
1504:
1500:
1499:
1497:
1496:
1493:
1490:
1487:
1484:
1481:
1477:
1475:
1469:
1468:
1466:
1465:
1459:
1457:
1453:
1452:
1450:
1449:
1444:
1439:
1436:
1433:
1428:
1425:
1420:
1418:American Eagle
1414:
1412:
1408:
1407:
1405:
1404:
1401:
1398:
1394:
1392:
1388:
1387:
1385:
1384:
1381:
1378:
1372:
1370:
1366:
1365:
1363:
1362:
1357:
1352:
1349:
1344:
1340:
1338:
1332:
1331:
1329:
1328:
1326:Roaring Rapids
1323:
1319:
1317:
1313:
1312:
1310:
1309:
1304:
1299:
1296:
1292:
1290:
1286:
1285:
1278:
1276:
1274:
1273:
1268:
1266:Sky Trek Tower
1263:
1257:
1255:
1254:Carousel Plaza
1251:
1250:
1248:
1247:
1242:
1236:
1233:
1232:
1227:
1225:
1224:
1217:
1210:
1202:
1196:
1195:
1186:
1175:
1174:External links
1172:
1170:
1169:
1131:
1109:
1078:
1056:
1028:
1006:
970:
946:
935:. May 10, 2012
918:
890:
862:
834:
811:
788:
766:
744:
717:
691:
664:
662:
659:
658:
657:
648:
638:
631:
628:
625:
624:
621:
617:
616:
613:
596:
593:
576:
573:
568:
565:
559:
556:
502:X-Flight is a
499:
496:
493:X-Flight train
486:
483:
463:Immelmann loop
412:
406:
403:
371:
368:
330:
329:
323:
322:
314:
311:
310:
299:
296:
295:
292:
288:
287:
284:
280:
279:
276:
272:
271:
268:
262:
261:
258:
254:
253:
250:
246:
245:
242:
238:
237:
232:
228:
227:
222:
218:
217:
212:
208:
207:
202:
198:
197:
188:
184:
183:
179:
178:
173:
169:
168:
165:
161:
160:
150:
146:
145:
135:
131:
130:
127:
123:
122:
90:
84:
83:
76:
72:
71:
66:
62:
61:
55:
54:
51:
43:
42:
34:
33:
15:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1669:
1658:
1655:
1653:
1650:
1648:
1645:
1643:
1640:
1638:
1635:
1633:
1630:
1628:
1625:
1623:
1620:
1619:
1617:
1601:
1598:
1596:
1593:
1592:
1590:
1586:
1580:
1577:
1574:
1572:
1569:
1567:
1564:
1561:
1558:
1557:
1555:
1553:
1549:
1542:
1539:
1536:
1535:
1533:
1531:Hometown Park
1529:
1523:
1520:
1517:
1514:
1511:
1508:
1507:
1505:
1501:
1494:
1491:
1488:
1485:
1482:
1479:
1478:
1476:
1474:
1470:
1464:
1461:
1460:
1458:
1454:
1448:
1445:
1443:
1440:
1437:
1434:
1432:
1429:
1426:
1424:
1421:
1419:
1416:
1415:
1413:
1409:
1402:
1399:
1396:
1395:
1393:
1389:
1382:
1379:
1377:
1376:Little Dipper
1374:
1373:
1371:
1367:
1361:
1358:
1356:
1353:
1350:
1348:
1345:
1342:
1341:
1339:
1337:
1333:
1327:
1324:
1321:
1320:
1318:
1314:
1308:
1305:
1303:
1300:
1297:
1294:
1293:
1291:
1289:Orleans Place
1287:
1282:
1272:
1269:
1267:
1264:
1262:
1259:
1258:
1256:
1252:
1246:
1243:
1241:
1238:
1237:
1234:
1230:
1223:
1218:
1216:
1211:
1209:
1204:
1203:
1200:
1194:
1190:
1187:
1183:
1178:
1177:
1173:
1162:
1158:
1154:
1153:
1145:
1140:"2013 Top 50
1135:
1132:
1119:
1113:
1110:
1098:
1097:
1092:
1085:
1083:
1079:
1066:
1060:
1057:
1045:
1044:
1039:
1032:
1029:
1016:
1010:
1007:
994:
990:
989:
984:
977:
975:
971:
966:
962:
955:
953:
951:
947:
934:
933:
928:
922:
919:
907:
906:
901:
894:
891:
879:
878:
873:
866:
863:
851:
850:
845:
838:
835:
822:
815:
812:
799:
792:
789:
776:
770:
767:
754:
748:
745:
733:. Coaster-Net
732:
726:
724:
722:
718:
705:
701:
695:
692:
680:
676:
669:
666:
660:
656:
652:
649:
646:
642:
639:
637:
634:
633:
629:
622:
619:
618:
614:
611:
610:
602:
594:
592:
589:
584:
583:
574:
572:
566:
564:
557:
555:
553:
549:
545:
541:
537:
533:
529:
525:
521:
517:
513:
509:
505:
497:
491:
484:
482:
480:
476:
472:
468:
464:
460:
455:
451:
447:
443:
439:
435:
431:
427:
423:
411:
404:
402:
399:
395:
394:
389:
385:
381:
377:
369:
367:
365:
361:
356:
352:
348:
344:
340:
336:
328:
324:
312:
307:
297:
293:
289:
285:
281:
277:
273:
269:
267:
263:
259:
255:
251:
247:
243:
239:
236:
233:
229:
226:
223:
219:
216:
213:
209:
206:
203:
199:
196:
192:
189:
185:
180:
174:
170:
166:
162:
151:
147:
136:
132:
128:
124:
119:
98:42°21′55.57″N
91:
89:
85:
81:
77:
73:
70:
67:
63:
60:
56:
49:
44:
40:
35:
30:
27:
23:
1575:River Rocker
1543:Tot's Livery
1446:
1391:Camp Cartoon
1380:Logger's Run
1298:Rue Le Dodge
1161:the original
1156:
1150:
1134:
1122:. Retrieved
1112:
1100:. Retrieved
1094:
1069:. Retrieved
1059:
1047:. Retrieved
1041:
1031:
1019:. Retrieved
1009:
997:. Retrieved
993:the original
986:
937:. Retrieved
930:
921:
909:. Retrieved
903:
893:
881:. Retrieved
875:
865:
853:. Retrieved
847:
837:
825:. Retrieved
814:
802:. Retrieved
791:
779:. Retrieved
769:
757:. Retrieved
747:
735:. Retrieved
708:. Retrieved
694:
684:September 3,
682:. Retrieved
678:
668:
587:
580:
578:
570:
561:
544:Wing Coaster
504:Wing Coaster
501:
498:Manufacturer
467:Inline twist
419:
409:
398:soft opening
391:
383:
379:
376:Wing Coaster
373:
355:Wing Coaster
334:
333:
221:Track layout
215:Wing Coaster
201:Manufacturer
195:Wing Coaster
149:Opening date
101:87°56′1.63″W
75:Park section
26:
1595:Fright Fest
1571:Raging Bull
1518:Triple Play
1515:The Lobster
1438:Sky Striker
1411:County Fair
1403:Yahoo River
1336:DC Universe
999:February 2,
911:December 9,
855:December 9,
804:January 27,
781:December 9,
759:December 9,
737:December 9,
710:December 9,
655:Cedar Point
528:Raging Bull
459:zero-g-roll
454:Cedar Point
446:Thorpe Park
341:located at
113: /
88:Coordinates
80:County Fair
1616:Categories
1566:Giant Drop
1486:Krazy Kups
1483:Krazy Kars
1473:Kidzopolis
1316:Mardi Gras
1271:Maxx Force
1071:August 23,
1021:August 23,
939:January 8,
823:. Facebook
661:References
651:GateKeeper
641:Wild Eagle
548:Wild Eagle
450:GateKeeper
306:Flash Pass
266:Inversions
156:2012-05-16
141:2012-05-12
1540:Red Baron
1537:Lady Bugs
1397:Crazy Bus
1360:The Joker
645:Dollywood
623:45 (tie)
575:Reception
552:Dollywood
540:Iron Wolf
442:The Swarm
438:Dive Drop
308:available
129:Operating
1602:(former)
1562:Ricochet
1559:Chubasco
1495:ZoomJets
1447:X-Flight
1189:X-Flight
1124:March 1,
1102:March 1,
1049:March 1,
883:July 15,
827:March 2,
800:Facebook
704:Fox News
630:See also
620:Ranking
530:and the
413:—
388:Caissons
382:and the
335:X-Flight
275:Duration
193: –
172:Replaced
65:Location
32:X-Flight
1522:Whizzer
1480:Bouncer
1431:Goliath
1191:at the
524:twister
471:keyhole
422:station
370:History
225:Twister
154: (
139: (
1588:Events
1295:Condor
932:WLS-TV
603:: Top
595:Awards
558:Trains
518:, the
428:, the
426:hangar
291:Trains
249:Length
241:Height
126:Status
1579:Viper
1423:Demon
1164:(PDF)
1147:(PDF)
1142:steel
615:2013
605:steel
567:Track
520:hyper
479:Demon
430:train
337:is a
257:Speed
211:Model
191:Steel
1126:2013
1104:2013
1073:2012
1051:2013
1023:2012
1001:2012
941:2013
913:2012
885:2012
857:2012
829:2012
806:2012
783:2012
761:2012
739:2012
712:2012
686:2011
612:Year
448:and
278:1:15
187:Type
164:Cost
550:at
452:at
444:at
345:in
1618::
1157:17
1155:.
1149:.
1093:.
1081:^
1040:.
985:.
973:^
963:.
949:^
929:.
902:.
874:.
846:.
720:^
702:.
677:.
554:.
534:,
526:,
514:,
366:.
1221:e
1214:t
1207:v
1128:.
1106:.
1075:.
1053:.
1025:.
1003:.
967:.
943:.
915:.
887:.
859:.
831:.
808:.
785:.
763:.
741:.
714:.
688:.
522:-
270:5
158:)
143:)
24:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
